The Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) presents this website to serve our members and visitors as a portal to the activities of AFIO and to provide word of upcoming educational events by other select intelligence groups.

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AFIO Chapters are the heart of AFIO activities for many members, so join AFIO National and then consider adding a local chapter membership to your mix.

What keeps you awake at night? Would you sleep better knowing that Arizona State University’s Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security is creating solutions to threats to our safety and well-being?
Learn of emerging solutions to issues such as the early detection of Ebola, human and sex trafficking, and the ability to immediately detect impairment due to marijuana and drug usage. Discover how the center brings together the knowledge and capacity of the entire ASU enterprise to create innovative solutions for the preparation, response, recovery, and management of natural or man-made incidents.Rick E. Dale is Executive Director of the ASU Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security and Professor of Practice in the College of Public Service and Community Solutions. He will be discussing "Ensuring our Homeland Security." Prior to joining ASU in 2013 to launch the center, Dale served as executive chairman and chief executive officer of IXP Corporation. Dale founded IXP in 2000, building it into an industry leader serving the emergency-solution needs of government, university, healthcare, and energy clients. Dale has more than three decades of experience in executive and technical management, professional services, and system integration in the broad emergency solution sector.

LOCATION: McCormick Ranch Golf Course, 7505 McCormick Pkwy, Scottsdale ~ Phone 480.948.0260.
RSVP to Simone at simone@afioaz.org or call her at 602.570.6016 no later than 72 hrs ahead of time.
Meeting fees are now $25.00

The presentation is about Turkey, the Region and Current Conflicts. To be held at The Monument Hill Country Club, 18945 Pebble Beach Way, Monument, CO 80132. Please RSVP to Tom VanWormer at robsmom@pcisys.net Directions are here.

Joseph Wippl is a former CIA officer who spent 30 years as an operations officer in the National Clandestine Service (NCS). Wippl served overseas in Bonn, West Germany; Guatemala City; Luxembourg; Madrid, Spain; Mexico City; Vienna, Austria; and Berlin, Germany. On assignments in CIA headquarters, he served as the Deputy Chief of Human Resources, as the Senior NCS representative to the Aldrich Ames Damage Assessment Team, as Chief of Europe Division and as the CIA’s Director of Congressional Affairs. Wippl has coordinated extensively with other members of the US IC. He currently teaches at Boston University. Prior to that he occupied the Richard Helms Chair for Intelligence Collection in the NCS training program. Wippl has taught at BU since 2006 where he serves as Director of Graduate Studies, Professor of the Practice of International Relations; BU Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University.

Topic: "Chinese Threats to the Internet - It is Not Just Hacking." The briefing will cover Chinese hacker methodologies and will dive deeply into Chinese vision for the future of cyberspace and the threats to the United States that this entails. Four unique Chinese cyber strategies (domestic development, international environment, domestic security and war) will be discussed.

11:30AM no host cocktails; meeting starts at noon. United Irish Cultural Center, 2700 45th Avenue, SF (between Sloat/Wawona). E-mail RSVP to Mariko Kawaguchi at afiosf@aol.com and you will be sent an Eventbrite link to reigster. Alternately, mail a check made out to "AFIO" to: Mariko Kawaguchi, P.O. Box 117578, Burlingame, CA 94011. Members and students: $25; non-members $35. $35 at the door. RSVP is required for this meeting.

Francis Hamit will be discussing "Christopher Marlowe" an upcoming film about the poet, playwright and spy who helped to defeat the Spanish Armada. The spy thriller is based on the 1988 stage play about Christopher Marlowe's service as a secret agent for the Crowne. The film will be shot in the UK later this year and Francis Hamit will serve as the Executive Producer. More about that movie can be seen here.
Location: LAPD-ARTC, 5651 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Francis Hamit served in the US Army Security Agency during the Vietnam War. Francis Hamit discovered this story when he worked for the Encylopaedia Britannica and wrote a number articles about intelligence organizations and personalities, he has written several historical fiction spy thrillers and is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop and a member of AFIO since 1987.
RSVP via email AFIO_LA@yahoo.com

OTHER IMPORTANT UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL EVENTS....

Tues-Wed, 24-25 March 2015 - Washington, DC - International Conference on Exercises, Gaming, and Simulations for Intelligence and National Security, Communication, Culture & Technology Program (CCTP)

Dates and times: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 8:30 AM - Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 7:00 PM (EDT)
This international conference, between the Center for Intelligence Services and Democratic Systems at Rey Juan Carlos University and the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University will enhance the role of experiential learning methods and techniques showcasing original simulations, exercises, and games applied to national security intelligence, competitive intelligence, and foreign affairs. The conference will bring together ideas, concepts and demonstrations that can further train and educate military, law enforcement, and national security professionals.
A sample of conference topics include:  Scenario-based approach for developing the links between analysis and reporting;  Computational Simulation In Intelligence Analysis;  The Induction Game and Intelligence Education;  Gaming and Modeling Before a Crisis;  Use of Gaming and Exercise as Part of an Engagement Strategy;  Gaming the Nexus between Intelligence and Policy;  Concrete Tabletop Exercises for Cognitive Skill Development in Analysts;  Serious gaming & how to create visionary practitioners and policy makers;  Balancing Realism and Playability in the Intelligence Classroom;  Structured Analytic Techniques for Cyber Security through Role Playing; Cyber-Attack and Ethics Simulations;  Virtual Training Systems and Survival Humanistic Factors;
Discounted hotel accommodations, questions or comments should be directed to Dr. Jan Goldmanjg28@georgetown.edu or Dr. Ruben Arcos Martin, ruben.arcos@urjc.es (outside North America)
Registration and Information is available here.

10 - 11 April 2015 - New Haven, CT - Yale Veterans Summit

Bridging the Divide: The Way Forward in US Civil-Military Relations Join us for the two-day inaugural Yale Veterans Summit to be held on campus April 10th & 11th. This event will bring together a formidable cross section of military, government, civic, and academic leaders to discuss the most pressing needs and challenges facing service members and veterans today, and the way forward for civil-military relations in the United States. More information is here.

Human rights investigators increasingly use advanced technologies such as imagery satellites in their work documenting abuses around the globe. Traditionally these tools have been reserved for national intelligence services, but now they are standard tools for research by private organizations as well.
These readily available “eyes in the sky” give safe access to dangerous conflict zones such as Syria, or closed-off areas such as political prison camps in North Korea. Next generation micro-satellites even have the potential to provide full-motion video documentation. While satellite imagery has been likened to looking through a soda straw, the spread of cell phones and digital social networks provides visual documentation in real-time on a massive scale. However, this comes with its own challenges, as videos or pictures shared via YouTube or Facebook can be faked or shared within the wrong context.
Join us for a thought-provoking evening with Christoph Koettl of Amnesty International on the opportunities and pitfalls of advanced technologies in the hands of private researchers and investigators. Dr. Mark Stout, the program director of the MA in Global Security Studies and the Certificate in National Security Studies at Johns Hopkins University, will host.
Tickets: $10. Visit www.spymuseum.org

26 April to 3 May 2015 - Berlin and Vienna - ESPIONAGE IN EUROPE: Now and Then - a New York Times Journey with AFIO Member/former CIA Officer, Jon Wiant.

Reserve now to travel on this exciting eight day intelligence excursion. "Espionage in Europe: Now and Then" is a journey focused on history & context. From the Cold War to present day government phone-hacking. Berlin and Vienna are two of Europe's capital cities that have seen more than their fair share of activity. Explore how, why and who was involved, the back stories and realization that it will never go away.
Join us on a unique tour to Berlin and Vienna, to learn about both underground goings on and those taking place in plain site, how World War II shaped Cold War intelligence operations and why our espionage bases in Berlin and Vienna became the dangerous front lines of our conflict with the Soviet Union. The Times-selected expert accompanying this trip is Prof. Jon A Wiant, retired Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, former White House director of intelligence policy and former member of the CIA. To hear more about this tour, listen to Jon Wiant speak, during a recent webinar.Cost: $7,450 pp, +$1,000 single supplement. Deposit $500. Itinerary: 8 days, 7 nights. Activity Level: More active trips involving hiking over moderately strenuous and varied terrain, usually — but not always — with vehicle support and at elevations most often below 10,000 feet, or trips with significant hiking days, wilderness camping, or other mandatory activity. On some trips, you can elect to skip a day’s hike, depending on logistics. Questions? Call 855-698-7979.

Other Events of interest:

Thursday, 09 April 2015, 7 - 10pm - Washington DC - An Evening with a Futurist: Dinner with Marc Goodman at the International Spy Museum

Futurist Marc Goodman was voted by the TED Talks community as the speaker “most likely to freak you out.” A global thinker, writer, and consultant focused on the profound change technology is having on terrorism, crime, and security, he was the FBI’s Futurist in Residence and has worked for INTERPOL, the United Nations, NATO, and the LAPD—and tonight he’ll be your companion at dinner. As the founder of the Future Crimes Institute, Marc Goodman shares his thoughts on how disruptive technologies—such as artificial intelligence, the social data revolution, synthetic biology, virtual worlds, robotics, ubiquitous computing, and location-based services—form the basis for his new book Future Crimes. At this gathering, International Spy Museum historian Dr. Vince Houghton will lead a conversation with Goodman about the future of cyber intrigue. They will cover everything from cyberterrorism to the Dark Web to how individuals, businesses, and governments can protect themselves from cyber crimes too terrifying to imagine. You will be one of only seven guests at Poste Moderne Brasserie for this three-course dinner. You will receive a copy of Future Crimes when you reserve your space.
To Register: contact Laura Hicken lhicken@spymuseum.org or 202.654.0932.
Tickets: $300. Visit www.spymuseum.org

Friday, 17 April 2015, 1-4pm - Washington DC - Meet a Spy: Robert Wallace at the International Spy Museum

Briefing at the International Spy Museum Store and “Meet a Spy” – uncover the world of espionage and intelligence with people who practiced professionally. Meet the former director of the CIA’s Office of Technical Service (OTS) and spy gadget master, Robert Wallace. Tickets: Free! No reservations required. Visit www.spymuseum.org

The Theme: Intelligence-Informed Decision-Making to Build a More Secure Future
The Global Intelligence Forum continues down the path of intelligence innovation and discovery first begun in July 2010 with our exploration of the nature of analysis and its application in various intelligence professions. In 2011 and 2013, the discussion centered on the interaction between the intelligence analyst/practitioner and the decision-maker. In July 2015, we continue to build bridges between decision-makers, practitioners and scholars in the fields of cyber security, geospatial intelligence, and data analytics. Best practice panels and speakers will also explore anticipatory analytics, and the wicked problem approach to intelligence challenges. Additionally, the Forum will provide a breakout session for Higher Education leaders to discuss the application of intelligence practices to higher education decision-making. We will bring best practices in 21st century intelligence and data management to the examination of what leaders in the public and private sectors require to make more effective decisions.
Speakers: Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan, Commissioner of the Garda, Ireland's National Police ServiceLewis C. Merletti, Former Director, U.S. Secret Service (Keynote Speaker) The Honorable Howard Schmidt, Partner at Ridge - Schmidt Cyber (Keynote Speaker)Ian McCulloh, Sr., Scientist in the Asymmetric Operations Dept of the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab Abe Usher, Chief Technology Officer, HumanGeo Group
More about these and other speakers is available here.
To register, do so here.
Mailing address: Tom Ridge School of Intelligence Studies and Information Science, Mercyhurst University, 501 East 38th St, Erie, PA 16546-0002

Tuesday, 21 April 2015, 6:30pm - Washington DC - The Rosenbergs: Another Debate at the International Spy Museum

More than sixty years after their execution in June 1953 for conspiring to steal atomic secrets for the Soviet Union, in a few hardbitten, blind-to-facts circles, the debate still rages about the Rosenbergs. Especially among their family members and friends. Mike Meeropol, the son of Julius and Ethel, has spent his life whitewashing the perfidy of his parents’ secret lives, their trials, their well-deserved convictions for espionage, and ultimately their executions. Sam Roberts, journalist for The New York Times, is the author of The Brother, a book written with exclusive access to David Greenglass, Ethel’s brother, whose testimony almost single-handedly convicted
the couple in the era before classified VENONA decrypts were released to show they were guilty as charged. In this debate, these Rosenberg scholars—with different perspectives on a case long-settled by intelligence scholars—will take on the divisive issues and key questions that remain to the few holdouts despite the declassification of intelligence files from the United
States and the Soviet Union that prove they were guilty and deserving of the punishment they received.
As a voice of reason, Dr. Vince Houghton, historian and curator of the International Spy Museum and an expert on nuclear intelligence, will moderate this debate on the Rosenberg case.
Tickets: $15, Members of the Inner Circle: $12. Visit www.spymuseum.org

NOW AVAILABLE

Getting a Security Clearance: Questions and Answers about what they are, how they are conducted,
how you can qualify, how long they take, and what can put them in jeopardy.

Intelligence Community - Six Years in a Row - Named 2014
One of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government

For the sixth consecutive year, the Intelligence Community (IC) was honored as #4 in the top-ten Best Places to Work in the Federal Government, according to an independent analysis of federal workers' job satisfaction and commitment.

The rankings were compiled by the Partnership for Public Service (PPS) and American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation (ISPPI) and announced recently in Washington, D.C. PPS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that aims to attract people to federal careers and improve how the government runs. The institute conducts research and helps federal leaders solve difficult public-policy issues.

The IC ranked fourth overall among large agencies, which includes over 30 organizations, each of which employs more than two thousand people. Rankings are based on data from the 2014 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which the U.S. Office of Personnel Management administers. The first Federal Government survey was in 2003, but the IC has only participated since 2009. Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, noted that the IC does not have to participate but does so voluntarily, "which is a credit to them."

To maintain the security of information about its work force, the IC relies on its own survey instrument to assess each year how its workers feel about issues such as job satisfaction, professional development, and the effectiveness of senior leaders. The IC includes several questions from the federal survey in the IC's annual Employee Climate Survey. That way, the Community's information can be compared with that from other organizations.

Other top-five large organization Best Places to Work are: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State and Justice.

Visit bestplacestowork.org to see which agencies top the rankings and to access trend analysis, demographic data and all 10 workplace categories, as well as generate custom reports and conduct side-by-side comparisons for up to three agencies.

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